Like anything new, breastfeeding can be a case of getting the hang of it. It’s all about practice and mastering that initial latch.
Everyone from your mum to the midwife will tell you that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, but what you may not appreciate is that it’s also a skill. And like any new skill, it takes practise (and patience!) to get right.
One of the trickiest things for mum and baby can be getting the latch right.
‘Latching on’ refers to how your baby attaches to the breast using their tongue and mouth – if the latch is right it will be easy for baby to feed, and shouldn’t result in discomfort for mum. Feeling pain while feeding or having sore nipples can be signs your baby isn’t attached correctly or that baby has tongue-tie.
"Breastfeeding should be comfortable and pain-free for the breastfeeding parent. A number of difficulties breastfeeding parents experience comes from feeding their baby in a uncomfortable or ineffective way.
Below are some of the issues that can come from poor positioning, leading to your baby not latching well.", says the NHS.
The NHS also say that: "The acronym CHIN can be used in all breastfeeding positions. Try to keep CHIN in mind when breastfeeding.
-
C - Close: Keep your baby as close to you as possible. Their bottom should be tucked in with their arms hugging your breast. Being close to you will help them latch effectively and get a good feed.
-
H - Head Free: Keep your baby’s head free to move around. You can do this by supporting your baby’s shoulders. This will allow them to tilt their head back when they are coming in towards the breast.
-
I - In Line: Keep your baby as straight as possible as they feed. Their ears, shoulders and hips should be in a straight line. This will make sure your baby is comfortable when feeding.
-
N - Nose to Nipple: Your baby's nose needs to be opposite your nipple. Bring them into the breast when they have a wide open mouth. They will lead with their chin and take a big mouthful of your breast. They will then take your nipple up and back into their mouth.
How to get baby to latch on to the nipple
1 of 51) Check you're sitting comfortably
Before you introduce your baby to your nipple, make sure you’re comfortable. Check that your baby’s head and body is in a straight line (if not, it can make it harder for him to swallow) and that you are supporting his neck, shoulders and back.
Whichever breastfeeding holdyou choose, your baby should be able to tilt his head back and swallow easily.
2 of 52) Get the position right
According to Dr. Deborah Lee, they said: "Hold your baby horizontally across your body at chest level, facing your breast, and keeping them close to you. This horizontal position may not seem natural to you at first but it is correct, says Dr. Lee.
3 of 53) Perfect timing
Let the baby's head tip back slightly. This means you can brush their top lip with your nipple which will encourage them to open their mouth wide. Feeding is a natural reflex for babies. When they feel the nipple and smell milk they will naturally want to start feeding.
4 of 54) Start as early as possible
When the baby grasps the nipple in their mouth, they should take most of the areola - the coloured area around the nipple - into their mouth. The nipple should be nearer the top of the baby's mouth than the middle or bottom. This is so the nipple lies against the baby's hard palate and the milk is propelled towards the back of their throat.
If you need help with boosting your breast milk, here are 9 must-read tops on increasing it naturally.
5 of 55) Check for signs it's going well
Let their head tip back slightly as they feed, as this helps them suck and swallow. Plus you can look down into their eyes as they feed. Feeding is a loving experience for both of you. Plus as a mum, you need that oxytocin release for your own breast milk let down reflex to occur.
Make sure the baby is well supported throughout the feed. They tend to go quite floppy as they relax and drift off to sleep at the end of the feed.
If your baby seems content and satisfied after most feeds, is putting on weight after the first two weeks and has at least six wet nappies and two soiled ones a day, it’s a good indication he is feeding well. Check out our poo colour chart to know what to look out for.
About the author
Adejumoke Ilori is a Commercial and Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mummy of one who's been through the weaning process with her daughter and is able to use her own experiences to help other parents. She enjoys writing about baby world, mothership, true life stories (especially single parenthood), and celebrity gossip. With a degree in Creative Writing, she has also worked with media platforms like, OK! Magazine, New, She Rose Revolution and Fab Magazine.